11.16.2010

OK, I am crafty and I am handy, but I am also a chicken. I tend to not ever take on projects without a back up - Dad around or Hubby home or a phone number of a good handy man - BUT things are a changin'.

Moen sent me a faucet to review and install myself. AND...I DID IT! I even did it without back up...hubby was at work and Rook No. 17 took my kids (although the little one wanted to help)!

I will tell you, I was nervous, I remember listening to the handyman who installed the other faucet complain when he put it in....but installing the Moen faucet was so easy! And I have NEVER, EVER tried this before.

I will tell you, the hardest part of the job was that I had to remove the old faucet...that took awhile...I seriously was clueless ZERO idea how to get it off (I dinged my wall too...oh well!).

Bye-Bye OLD faucet! Here's what I did:

Turned off the water supply and ran the water out of the faucet! I figured that out on my own.

Removed the old faucet - I did have to look up a few things on the Internet to see how to remove a faucet...up until this point, I knew there were a lot of parts, but was really only concerned about the spout and the handles. I also have a pedestal sink, so it is close quarters tightening up things. That made this first foray into faucet removal and installation a little more challenging but I conquered it.

I followed the directions in the Moen box. I had the widespread Vestige Faucet and the 9000 M-PACT Rough-In Valve. Because I did not have a Moen faucet already in the bathroom, I need the valves...which meant I was also connecting water hoses and such. It was not hard! I was so excited that I could do this!

Moen has these awesome clips on their water hoses - a snap to install! A life saver...so easy and efficient.

Installing the parts to the faucet and then the actual handles and spout were easy - OK, I had a little trouble with the spout because I did the "man thing" and DID NOT pay attention to the fact that there was a piece still in the box - an allen wrench...once I did, it was on is a FLASH!!

I finished up and awaited the moment of truth...turning the water back on and then trying out the faucet.

I held my breath and did it...the faucet worked! SUCCESS! A Happy Dance!

It took me about 3 hours to do this...BUT I spent about 1 hour figuring out how to remove the old faucet {I was also a little nervous}, and then there was 45 minutes of sheer stupidity. I figure not bad for a first timer...and I am so proud that I did it all without hubby or my Dad...or a handyman!

Step 3

Step 4

Step 5

SUCCESS!

I feel so confident...I was able to easily follow Moen's directions and install this really beautiful faucet which is the beginning of this bathroom's sprucing up...So, 1 bathroom down 2 to go! Now, the real test will be when I try to replace the tub fixtures!

Thanks Moen for helping make my sink more beautiful...and now they want to help you.What a perfect way to spruce up the house before the holidays!

I am sooooo impressed. I don't know if I would have had the nerve. They must be trying to make their faucets more user friendly and you sure proved that it worked. Congrats and it looks fabulous. Can't wait to see the rest of the transformation.

I follow and I need this soooo bad! My only bathroom has no faucet right now. Yes we have everything else but we got a new vanity and its one of those things we haven't finished. Help!jenniferwlsn33@gmail.com

THIS is just the site I was looking for! I get a lot of smack for a "GIRL" doing diy projects and get excited about learning new things. My dad taught me to change my oil, I laid my own tile unprompted without help, and put in a garbage disposal myself. Countless other things like running electrical wires, etc. I love crafts and cooking and TRY?ING to change out things in our old house little by little...and our 30 year old faucets need a switchout bad!

I did join the DIY club? by subscribing to email, twitter, & although I do not blog myself, I hit the network follow because could not see a GF join area. I gotta' say, I got all gaga over the gorilla glue over there...that stuff is amazing! LOL!

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Holly Lefevre

Baking, crafting, making a mess or making beautiful things - that is a
day in the life at 504 Main. I make simple crafts and overly complicated ones
too. I want to be organized...but that has not happened yet. My husband
says "baking isn't my thing" but I just came in first place in a baking
competition...so that all kind of proves you never know what is going to
happen at 504 Main! http://www.504main.com

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Most products I blog about are because I LOVE them and I am receiving no compensation whatsoever. I will not recommend a service/blog/product that I feel does not meet my standards or expectations. From time to time, Holly Lefevre and/or 504 Main receives products or services free of charge for a review or product demonstration. My opinions are always my own.